If you have been hurt, then you may need a personal injury attorney. Here is what to expect after your accident: First, you should contact a personal injury attorney. At King Law, our intake team will schedule a consultation at a time convenient for you. The consultation can be done in person or over the phone, it’s your choice. During this consultation, you will have the opportunity to explain what happened to an attorney. The attorney may ask you questions about the timing of your accident, where the accident occurred, and a summary of any medical treatment related to the accident. Once the attorney has that information, they will determine whether they can help you get the relief you need. If the attorney does believe they can help, they will give you a Client Engagement Agreement. If you wish to hire the attorney, sign this Agreement and the attorney will begin working on your case. You can sign the Agreement in person or through email. All of this happens during your first conversation with the attorney.
Within the next 24-32 business hours, the case manager assigned to your case will have a meeting with you. Once again, this meeting can be in person or over the phone, depending on your preference. The purpose of this meeting is to understand your accident. The case manager will ask you to repeat the story of the accident and get a more detailed picture of what happened. They may ask about the hospitals, doctors, and treatments you received. They may also ask about the opposing party’s insurance company. All of the information you provide to the case manager will be available to your attorney.
At this point, the attorney will notify the opposing party that you hired them to represent you and all communication should be made with the attorney. The attorney will then begin requesting your medical records and determining how much money is needed to make sure you fully recover. After collecting all relevant documentation, the attorney will put together a packet of the information and request the opposing party pay you a certain amount for your accident. Usually, the other side will respond with a lower offer. This begins the negotiation process. A majority of cases settle during negotiations. By settling the case, you are able to receive compensation to allow you to recover and save money by avoiding going to court.
Your attorney will advise you on whether an offer is good. If the offer is good and you decide to accept, the attorney will begin collecting any bills that resulted because of your accident. The attorney will reach out to anyone owed and work to get the bills reduced. In North and South Carolina, those bills must be paid before you receive your settlement. After all the debts from the accident have been taken care of, you receive your settlement.
The best thing you can do during this entire process is take care of yourself and stay in contact with your attorney. Make sure that you are receiving all the care that you need, your health and wellbeing are important. Secondly, send your attorney any updates and your attorney will keep you informed of how the process is going.
At King Law, there are attorneys throughout North and South Carolina who handle these types of cases and can represent you in this unique situation. Call our toll-free number at 888-748-5465 (KING) to request a consultation with one of these experienced attorneys.